News Archive

February 2018

As you may have heard, the ANU campus is closed today (Monday 26 February) due to significant flooding and damage caused by rain over the weekend. Fortunately, we are happy to report that the Coombs Theatre has sustained no damage and the rest of the week's ANU Film Group screenings will proceed as scheduled.

In the interests of general safety, however, we have been advised by the ANU that we are unable to use any campus facilities this evening, and must therefore postpone our Annual General Meeting that was scheduled for 6 PM tonight.

The meeting will now take place on MONDAY 19 MARCH at 6 PM in the Coombs Theatre.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope that you will be able to make the new date.

Thank to everyone who came along and saw a film with us in the past week. It’s hard to believe it’s only been seven days since we started screenings for the year, but there’s plenty more to come in 2018.

One upcoming event of note is our Annual General Meeting on Monday 26 February at 6 PM in the Coombs Theatre. This is where the ANUFG committee reports back to you, the members, with how we’ve been doing in the past 12 months, and our exciting plans for the future. The AGM also includes the selection of a new administration to see us through the next 12 months.

All members are welcome to attend, and if you wish to get more involved with the running of Australia’s largest film society, we encourage you to volunteer to run for a position on the committee too. For more information on what being a committee member entails, feel free to email us at info@anufg.org.au.

There will also be a Question and Answer session where members can ask the committee anything they want to know about how the group runs or its future plans. This year, we are also extending the opportunity to all members – even those not in attendance next Monday – to ask questions ahead of time by emailing us at info@anufg.org.au. Please submit your questions by no later than Sunday 25 February at 5 PM.

Submitted questions will be answered at the AGM on Monday, and select answers will also be included in next week’s mailing list message. We hope to see many of you there!

.............................................................
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
.............................................................

It’s another busy week ahead with not one, not two, but three PITCH PERFECT films, a DC superhero team up, a girls' night out and a screening to celebrate the launch of the 2018 French Film Festival.

• MON 19 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE ODYSSEY (PG, 123 min)

Ahead of his time for exploring the sea as no one had done before, Jacques-Yves Cousteau quickly became a household name in the 1950s. Over the course of the next 30 years, we explore the life of the pioneering filmmaker and researcher – a life rich in accomplishments, but teeming in turmoil.

** Presented in partnership with Alliance Française Canberra to commemorate the upcoming launch of the 2018 French Film Festival, with an introduction from Alliance Française’s director and ticket giveaways **

• THU 22 FEB @ 7:30 PM: JUSTICE LEAGUE (M, 120 min)

In an effort to defend Earth from an otherworldly enemy, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) – aka Batman – scours the globe to put together a team of newfound allies, each with their own superpowers and abilities. Together, this unprecedented league of heroes must work together to save the world from destruction.

All three films in the popular PITCH PERFECT musical comedy trilogy screening across two nights!

In the one that started it all, university freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick) is cajoled into joining the Barden Bellas – a disgraced, all-girls a cappella singing group who are forced to regroup after a disastrous year. With a new lease on life, the Bellas attempts to take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

Then, in PITCH PERFECT 2 (at approx. 9:30 PM), the Bellas are back and taking on a seemingly impossible task: to win an international competition that no American team has ever won. Taking to the world stage, the Bellas must work harder than ever with new friends and former enemies to save their reputations.

In PITCH PERFECT 3, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering that life after university isn’t great as they hoped. When they get a chance to reunite for an overseas tour accompanying USO troops around the world, they come together to make music – and questionable decisions – one last time.

Then, in GIRLS TRIP (at approx. 8:45 PM), four lifelong friends embark on a trip to New Orleans for a music festival, where sisterhoods are rekindled and wild sides are discovered in this acclaimed, raunchy, no-holds-barred comedy that has been likened to a female version of THE HANGOVER.

Thank you to everyone who came along to kick off the new screening year with us on Monday. As you may have heard, the screening was packed and, because it filled up only 15 minutes after the doors opened, we’re screening it again!

So if you missed out on Monday, couldn’t make it to begin with, or simply want to see THOR: RAGNAROK again, you’ll have your second chance this SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY.

Doors will open from 6:30 PM for a 7 PM film start. Our canteen run by the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak will be open for your fill of snacks and drinks. And, yes, entry will once again be FREE for any and all to attend.

Here’s what else we'll be showing in our first week of screenings for 2018, which features everything from Hugh Jackman to Jackie Chan, to animated bulls and immortal samurai:

• WED 14 FEB @ 7:30 PM: THE FOREIGNER

A businessman (Jackie Chan) with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed by terrorists. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official (Pierce Brosnan), whose past may hold clues to the killers' identities.

• FRI 16 FEB @ 7:30 PM: BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL

Cursed with immortality after a legendary battle, a skilled samurai promises to help a young girl avenge her parents – a mission which changes him in ways he could never have imagined. The 100th film from master director Takashi Miike.

• SAT 17 FEB @ **5 PM**: FERDINAND

Ferdinand is a giant bull with a big heart, but when he is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is taken away from his family and forced into bullfighting. He must then learn to overcome his fears and find a way back home.

• SAT 17 FEB @ **7 PM**: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Hugh Jackman stars in this hit, feel-good musical about P.T. Barnum, a visionary innovator who risks everything – including his family and his reputation – to create a live circus with attractions unlike anything the world had ever seen.

• SUN 18 FEB @ **7 PM**: THOR: RAGNAROK (Free Re-screening)

Stranded on the other side of the universe, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must seek the help of old friends and new allies in a race against time to return to his home planet of Asgard and prevent the destruction of civilization as he knows it.

If you have pre-purchased your membership, remember that they will be available for collection from tonight (February 14) onwards.

Upon arrival at the theatre, head to the outdoor table designated for Online Purchases to pick up your card. Please ensure that you have your membership certificate printed out and/or readily available on your phone to speed up the pick up process.

If you have yet to receive your membership certificate, or would like us to send it again, just drop us a line at info@anufg.org.au and we’d be happy to assist.

For those of you who have yet to purchase your membership but wish to come to a screening in the next few days, please note that memberships purchased online will take 2-3 business days to process.

If you are hoping to attend a screening before then, we recommend that you come along on the night and purchase a membership in person instead from our friendly volunteers. We can accept payment at the door via cash and card (with a small surcharge), including EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard.

We hope you all enjoyed your last ANUFG-free weekend (as much as one feasibly can without us) because, as of tonight, we’re back! It’s hard to believe that it’s been a long two and a half months since we last saw you all, but we promise to make it up by occupying your evenings and weekends for at least the next nine months.

For those of you who have been stranded on an alien planet, we’re kicking everything off tonight with a FREE screening of Marvel’s THOR: RAGNAROK!

In the acclaimed film, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is banished from his home world by the all-powerful Goddess of Death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). Stranded on the other side of the universe, Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally, the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Together with old friends and new allies, he must race against time to return to Asgard and prevent Hela from destroying civilization as he knows it.

Doors will be opening from 7 PM (no earlier) for a film start time of 7:30 PM. The Coombs Theatre only has 371 seats and they will fill fast, so make sure you’re there on time to secure your seat as entry is strictly on a first in, best dressed basis.

The screening may be free, but be sure to bring some cash with you as our lovely friends at the Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak will be running their canteen tonight. You can buy popcorn, drinks, snacks and more at very reasonable prices, with the best part being that all proceeds go to charity – so you can have your movie snack and feel good about eating it too!

And for those of you who like leaving things to the last minute… your time has come.

You can still purchase your membership online but it will take approximately 2-3 business days before your pre-purchased card will be ready to pick up. If you are hoping to attend a screening before then, we recommend that you come along on the night and purchase a membership in person instead from our friendly volunteers at the door. We accept payment via cash, EFTPoS, Visa, Mastercard and gold bullion (maybe not, but you’re welcome to try).

January 2018

Oscar nominations announced? Check. Plans made for the long weekend? Check. New ANU Film Group programme released? Check, check, check!

It's here – the ANU Film Group's full programme for Semester One 2018. To kick off our 52nd year, we have put together a terrific line-up of 97 films that will entertain, delight, thrill and fascinate you.

As always, our programme features a little something for everyone. There are blockbusters like STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI and BLACK PANTHER screening alongside Oscar hopefuls like THE SHAPE OF WATER and LADY BIRD. There are films from countries as diverse as Thailand, Portugal, Norway, Taiwan and Canada, as well as the latest and greatest from Hollywood and Australia. There are films for all ages, including COCO and JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, plus a number of special Q&A screenings that will take you beyond the film.

While we believe that every film on the programme is worth checking out, here are some noteworthy highlights:
• Oscars Nominees: 21 of this year's nominated films, including seven of the Best Picture nominees.
• Family Films at Five: family-friendly films at family-friendly start times, including COCO, PADDINGTON 2 and A WRINKLE IN TIME.
• PITCH PERFECT Trilogy: all three films in the hugely popular musical comedy series across two nights.
• Filmmaker Q&As: post-screening discussions with the directors of MOUNTAIN, BLUE WORLD ORDER and THUNDER AND DUST.
• Annual General Meeting: your chance to find out about future plans for the Group, and even run for a position on the committee.
• Plus much, much more between February 12 and July 14!

Don’t believe us? Check it out for yourself in one of three ways:
• View the full programme with reviews on our website by clicking HERE.
• Download a PDF flyer with the programme listing that you can print out or share HERE (149 Kb).
• Import the entire programme with reviews and start times straight into your calendar of choice using the iCal file available HERE.

Semester One 2018 officially kicks off with a free screening of Marvel’s THOR: RAGNAROK on Monday 12 February at 7:30 PM. Be sure to save the date and invite everyone you know along to check out the best way to see movies in Canberra. It’s bound to be a Thor-riffic night!

And if you were waiting on a programme before joining up, you now no longer have any excuses. Head to www.anufg.org.au/join to sign up now!

It’s time to get excited – there are less than four weeks until screenings for 2018 begin. And we’re thrilled to announce that we'll be kicking things off on MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY with Marvel’s hilarious and action-packed THOR: RAGNAROK!

Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor, the mighty God of Thunder, who is banished from his home world of Asgard by the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett). Stranded on the other side of the universe, Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his fellow Avenger, the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Together with old friends and new allies, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and prevent Hela from destroying civilization as he knows it.

Directed by New Zealand’s Taika Waititi (HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE) and also starring Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, Marvel's latest superhero blockbuster is one of the most fun times you'll have at the movies this year, so bring everyone you know to join us in celebrating the start of screenings for 2018.

Entry is FREE for all to attend, limited to the capacity of the venue (371 seats) and on a first come, first served basis. No RSVPs or tickets required.

Our friends at Transmission Films have invited us to a special preview screening of FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, the new British romantic drama starring Annette Bening and Jamie Bell.

Based on a true story, the film follows the unlikely relationship between young actor Peter Turner (Bell) and eccentric Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) in Liverpool in the late 1970s. What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme fatale and her young lover quickly grows into a deeper relationship, as their passion and lust for life is tested by events beyond their control.

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL will be released in cinemas on March 1, but you can see it first – and for free – at this advanced screening at Dendy Canberra on TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY at 6:30 PM. For more information, and to secure your tickets, click HERE.

Tickets are strictly limited, however, so get in quick! For more information about the film, and to view its trailer, click HERE.

December 2017

Thanks to everyone who has already purchased their ANU Film Group memberships for 2018. It’s such a great and reassuring show of faith that so many of you are joining up without even a single film from our new programme having been revealed.

As a token of our thanks to you this very merry Christmas, everyone who has purchased a membership so far will automatically be entered into our spectacular Christmas prize bonanza! It’s the season for giving after all, so we're giving away heaps of prizes, including:

• 10x in-season double passes to BREATHE, an inspirational British drama starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. In this true story, a charismatic man (Garfield) is struck down by polio and given only months to live, but with the help of his determined wife (Foy), continues living his life to its fullest. In cinemas December 26, courtesy of Transmission Films. Find out more HERE.

• 5x in-season double passes to THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, the darkly comic new drama from the director of IN BRUGES. After months with no progress in her daughter’s murder case, a mother (Frances McDormand) personally challenges the local authorities to solve the crime. Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell also star in this 6x Golden Globe nominee, which is in cinemas from January 1 from 20th Century Fox. Find out more by clicking HERE.

• 10x season passes to the NFSA’s Fashion and Costume Week, running from January 6 to 14. The season passes will give you entry into every single film in the NFSA’s week-long exploration of fashion and costume on the big screen, including screenings of such classics as MOULIN ROUGE!, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, DOGS IN SPACE and STRICTLY BALLROOM. Find out more by clicking HERE.

• 10x in-season double passes to SWEET COUNTRY, the award-winning Australian film from the director of SAMSON & DELILAH. In 1929, an Aboriginal farmhand (Hamilton Morris) and his wife are forced to go on the run when he kills a white man in self-defence. Bryan Brown and Sam Neill joins newcomer Morris in this period Western that hits cinemas on January 25, courtesy of Transmission Films. Find out more HERE.

You could win one prize, two prizes, or even all four of the prizes – it all depends on whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year (read: prizes will be randomly drawn and posted to you; Santa Claus plays no part in the selection of the winners).

But you have to be in it to win it. Haven’t purchased your membership yet? It’s not too late. Simply go to www.anufg.org.au/join to join up before 11:59 PM on SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER to go into the running. You can even purchase memberships as Christmas gifts for friends and family to give them a chance too!

Annual memberships are just $70 for a year’s worth of films, or $40 for a Semester One membership allowing you to see everything between February and July 2018. Payment can be made via direct deposit or credit card/PayPal ($2 surcharge per membership applies). Upon successful receipt of payment, a digital membership certificate will then be emailed to the nominated email address within 3–5 business days.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a movie at the ANU Film Group over the past year! Whether you were a new member, a long-time Film Groupie, or even just an invited guest, we hope you enjoyed the screenings and events that we put on throughout 2017.

But as they say, there’s no rest for the wicked, and we’ve already been working hard on Semester One 2018 for nearly a month! This culminated in our film selection team slogging it out for more than six hours yesterday to pull together the first draft of our new programme. It’s far from ready for public consumption, however, as there is plenty more work to do negotiating with our distributors to lock everything in over the coming weeks.

We hope to be able to share the fruits of our labour with you by early January, but in the meantime, we’re happy to report that you can begin purchasing your memberships for 2018 right now – just in time for Christmas!

Simply go to www.anufg.org.au/join to join up for yourself, your friends, your family and all of your loved ones (and maybe even not-so-loved ones – because everyone likes movies). ANUFG memberships make for fantastic gifts that keep on giving throughout the year, and all you have to do is complete the online form with the recipient's details to purchase a membership for 2018 on their behalf.

Membership prices remain unchanged at just $70 for an Annual membership, or $40 for a Semester One membership.

Payment can be made via direct deposit or credit card/PayPal ($2 surcharge per membership applies). Upon successful receipt of payment, a digital membership certificate will then be emailed to the nominated email address within 5–7 business days.

November 2017

Come along and join us in closing out the screening year with an appropriately epic and long night of films to tide you over until we return in February.

And speaking of February, film suggestions for Semester One 2018 will be closing tomorrow night too, so be sure to submit your recommendations for films you’d like to see by going to www.anufg.org.au/suggestions

• SAT 25 NOV @ **7 PM**: BLADE RUNNER 2049 + FLATLINERS (2017)

In BLADE RUNNER 2049, an LAPD officer (Ryan Gosling) unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. This discovery leads him to track down Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

Then, in the FLATLINERS remake (at approx. 9:45 PM), five medical students obsessed by what lies beyond death embark on a daring experiment to stop their hearts for short periods, allowing them to explore the realm of the afterlife – with increasingly dangerous consequences.

Much like the running of the ANUFG itself, volunteers are responsible for the film reviews that appear in our booklets and on our website. And we’re now on the lookout for people to contribute reviews for next semester’s films!

Reviews will need to be brief at between 150 and 200 words in length, and must be completed over about two weeks from mid-December to early January. This will coincide with the Christmas/New Year’s holiday period, so please only volunteer if you anticipate having some spare time around then.

If successful, volunteers will be then sent a list of films from which they can nominate the ones they’d like to write reviews for. You’re welcome to write just one review or as many as you’d like, but please note that:

1. We do not provide reviewers with payment or a copy of films.
2. Some of the films may not have not been released yet, and some creativity/research may be required in writing your review/preview of it.
3. Unsolicited reviews will not be accepted.

So if you love movies, enjoy writing, and would like something to do over the holidays, please let us know by dropping us a line at info@anufg.org.au as soon as you can. Thanks!

Tick tock… The clock is counting down to the end of screenings for the year. There may only a few more films to go, but we’re going to give you plenty bang for your buck over the next week and a bit.

This Saturday we will be screening not one, or two, but three films. First up, be sure to come along to see acclaimed Colombian director Ciro Guerra in person at at the special start time of 2 PM. We’re very lucky to have the Oscar-nominated director pay us a visit during his trip to Australia, and attend our Q&A screening of his 2009 film, THE WIND JOURNEYS. Find out more and RSVP by clicking HERE.

And don’t forget to suggest films you’d like to see on our Semester One 2018 programme by going to www.anufg.org.au/suggestions. Suggestions close next week on Saturday 25 November!

.............................................................
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
.............................................................

In addition to Ciro Guerra’s visit to the ANU Film Group at Saturday’s matinee screening, we also have a double feature of two very different ‘horror’ films later that evening.

A musician travels the villages of northern Colombia, playing traditional songs on his accordion, a legendary instrument said to have once belonged to the devil. When tragedy befalls him, he embarks on one final journey to return the supposedly accursed instrument to its rightful owner.

** Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia **

• SAT 18 NOV @ **7 PM**: MOTHER! + AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL

In MOTHER!, a writer (Javier Bardem) and his young wife (Jennifer Lawrence) find their tranquil existence disrupted when uninvited guests arrive at their home, straining their relationship. Darren Aronofsky (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) directs this controversial horror film that is not for the faint of heart.

Then, in AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL (at approx. 9:15 PM), former US Vice President Al Gore follows up his Oscar-winning 2006 documentary to address the progress made in tackling escalating climate change, as he travels the globe to persuade governmental leaders to invest in renewable energy.